Author Archives: Anja Terpstra
We will be announcing our Summer Camps in July very shortly now!
A fantastic opportunity for young performers to explore their creativity, build confidence, and have a blast during the summer break.
Send us an email if you want to hear it first!
To celebrate Creative February, Barnstorm’s Participation and Education Officer, Jo Hennessy, collaborated with three schools—Kennedy College New Ross, Presentation Primary School Castlecomer, and Glengoole—as part of the Creative Associates Scheme. Jo has been actively involved with her partner schools, including learning how to make St. Brigid’s Crosses with fifth and sixth-class students, leading drama workshops for junior and senior infants, and exploring the concept of creativity with secondary school students.
“Creative February is a chance to celebrate all kinds of creativity, whether it’s existing projects or trying something new with your students,” says Jo Hennessy.
Creative February is an initiative established by the Arts Council to promote the arts and creativity in schools across Ireland. This celebration aims to highlight the wonderful projects happening in schools and emphasise the importance of creativity. Schools can access free online resources on the Arts Council’s website, where teachers can find everything from free drama games to guides on how to make a podcast.
Philip Hardy spoke with Nickey Brennan on Kilkenny Radio and the Observer about his life in theatre and the upcoming production of The Quiet Land ..
24 Feb – 14 Mar 2025
.. Who’s the fastest? Who’s the winner? Excitable, energetic Hare, or patient, peaceful Tortoise? Ready? Steady? GO!…
Hare & Tortoise by Brendan Murray ignited imaginations in this charming, award-winning adaptation of Aesop’s fable about friendship, opposites, and growing up. Beginning in the first bright bloom of spring, journeying through the sunny, spirited summer, the cosy crisp autumn, and ending in the sparkling snow of winter, this enchanting story bursts to life with fun, music and captivating characters.
Here is what our audiences had to say
School Shows 24 Feb – 14 Mar
Family Shows 9 Mar
Tickets: €10 (teachers free)
Running time: 40 minutes approx.
HERE is the link to the FREE resource pack for teachers
Two elderly farmers, Eamon and Nashee, meet at a gate on a remote hillside. These men are old friends, old rivals, old neighbours. They are men of heart, of humour, of hardness. Their conversation is a throwback to a gentler time, when silence was as telling as declaration, and meaning was more often found between the lines than on them. But there’s nothing gentle about today’s conversation. In facing the bitter reality of their remote defiance, they have grown fearful and desperate. Now they are forced to confront each other with some heartbreaking truths that test their friendship to its limit.
The Quiet Land is a celebration of the humour, resilience and endearing innocence of an exiled generation as it struggles to survive in the isolated rural Ireland of today. It is Malachy McKenna’s heartfelt tribute to a rare breed of forgotten men who live a long way in off the road. Winner of the PJ O’Connor Award 2014.
30 Jan – 2 Feb 2025 7 PM
Venue: Barnstorm Studio
3 Johns Quay, Kilkenny, R95 T382
Barns Owl Players in association with Barnstorm Theatre Company
presents
Christmas comes to the Barnstorm Studio @ Home Rule Club from 27 to 30 November 2024 as local drama group, Barn Owl Players in association with Barnstorm Theatre Company, return to the stage with their popular annual “Christmas Crackers.” With theatrical monologues, duologues, songs and music in a cabaret-style setting local actors present an exciting evening of entertainment. In previous years this talented and enterprising group of local actors concocted an exciting adventure through plays, poetry and music in response to the yuletide season. This year is no exception and promises to wow audiences with their festive fare including songs, mulled wine and nibbles (and of course the raffle!).
In the shadow of a bejewelled Christmas tree and a cabaret-style setting the actors will present offerings from Irish and international greats such as Charles Dickens, Dylan Thomas, James Joyce amongst a feast of others. The evening is a must to get the Christmas spirits high.
Christmas Crackers takes place in Barnstorm Studio, 3 John’s Quay, Kilkenny for four nights only 27-30 November.
8pm – 10 pm (with interval)
€20 (Includes a glass of mulled wine and nibbles)
Book your tickets through gr8events
Have you ever been “the new kid on the block”? Scary isn’t it?
. . . . Imagine you are just ten years old and starting at a new school.
Set aboard the school bus, the play follows the progress of the new boy as he is faced with the politics of the school bus, where he meets a myriad of characters from which he must distinguish the cool from the not so cool, nerds from dossers, the geeks from the lads. He has to learn where to sit, who to talk to and when to lie low – in short how to survive as one of the gang. Through his eyes, we discover the mischief and mayhem of those bus journeys. Suitable for 6-12 yrs old.
axis, Ballymun 8-11 October 2024
Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny 15-22 October 2024
A FREE resource pack for teachers is available for DOWNLOAD HERE
Printer friendly version DOWNLOAD HERE
The pack provides a focus for exploration and discussion of themes raised through the play and links to a range of curricular areas.
As Barnstorm celebrates its 33rd year we are looking for an exceptional Artistic Director to follow in the footsteps of its founder Philip Hardy. Philip is stepping down and the Board are now seeking a dynamic and creative Artistic Director to develop and deliver an ambitious artistic policy & programme of events that inspires and enthuses audiences, stakeholders and staff alike.
The Artistic Director is responsible for the artistic vision and public representation and ambassador of Barnstorm. They will be jointly responsible, with the General Manager, for ensuring the organisation’s strategic development. The Artistic Director must continue to build on the strong internal culture of teamwork as well as foster excellent external relationships with partners and stakeholders to enhance the reputation and vision of Barnstorm.
The responsibilities of the Artistic Director will span from artistic leadership and programming to communications and relationship building. If you are an enthusiastic and positive creative leader and passionate about the craft of Theatre, this could be the role for you!
Full job description and application details are available HERE and you can email your application to anja@barnstorm.ie using Barnstorm Theatre Company — Artistic Director as the subject of your email.
It is Barnstorm’s policy to ensure that as much accommodation as possible is provided to facilitate the participation of individuals with support needs in the recruitment process and the workplace. If you require any specific accommodations, please let us know.
Deadline for applications: 06/09/2024 15:00
StormFest 24, a captivating week of plays for children and their families, and young adults. Set against the picturesque backdrop of John’s Quay, StormFest promised and delivered laughter, adventure, and heartwarming stories that left audiences of all ages spellbound.
Three renowned productions visited our festival in August with exciting experiences for all; and a world-premiere of a site-specific show in development.
Brú Theatre presented The LIBRAVIAN
Meet Lynn, a lovable ‘libravian’ minding her own business amongst the bookshelves until Ben the Book Tour guide gets the mumps and suddenly she is doing the one thing she said she’d never do again!
Julie Sharkey performed in AN ANT CALLED AMY
A very special story about an Ant called Amy, her brother Andy and a brown spider. Amy the ant works very hard. When she wins the Employee of the Month Award Amy feels happiness that drives her to work even harder. But with the help of the Brown Spider, Amy finds true happiness by embracing her brother’s memory in the everyday. A story about a busy little ant who learns to slow down.
Branar presented YOU’LL SEE
You’ll See…
Ulysses for Children? Yes. Yes, Ulysses for Children.
James Joyce’s epic story of one day in one city was brought to life in this inventive new show, bringing Ireland’s most notorious book to audiences aged 8 and upwards, and to all those who haven’t got around to reading it yet.Combining live performance, intricate paper design, an original score and Joyce’s odyssey, this is theatre that excited young and old.
HOME
Development on our new site-specific performance ‘Home’ by Anna Ní Dhúill. As we prepare for production for summer 2025, this snippet of ‘Home’ brought us closer to the young people of Kilkenny, and the stories they have to tell.
Barnstorm is grateful for the continued support from funders and partners.
StormFest24 is supported by The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, Kilkenny County Council and Kilkenny Arts Festival
Barnstorm Theatre Company is thrilled to announce StormFest, a captivating week of plays for children and their families.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of John’s Quay, StormFest promises laughter, adventure, and heartwarming stories that will leave audiences of all ages spellbound.
StormFest Line-up:
The LIBRAVIAN
Meet Lynn, a lovable ‘libravian’ minding her own business amongst the bookshelves until Ben the Book Tour guide gets the mumps and suddenly she is doing the one thing she said she’d never do again!
Sat 10 August 11am & 1pm Sun 11 August 11am & 1pm BOOK HERE
AN ANT CALLED AMY
A very special story about an Ant called Amy, her brother Andy and a brown spider. Amy the ant works very hard. When she wins the Employee of the Month Award Amy feels happiness that drives her to work even harder. But with the help of the Brown Spider, Amy finds true happiness by embracing her brother’s memory in the everyday. A story about a busy little ant who learns to slow down.
Tue 13 August 11am & 1pm Wed 14 August 11am & 1pm BOOK HERE
YOU’LL SEE
Ulysses for Children? Yes. Yes, Ulysses for Children.
James Joyce’s epic story of one day in one city is brought to life in this inventive new show, bringing Ireland’s most notorious book to audiences aged 8 and upwards, and to all those who haven’t got around to reading it yet. Combining live performance, intricate paper design, an original score and Joyce’s odyssey, this is theatre that will excite young and old.
Thu 15 August 11am & 1pm Fri 16 August 11am & 1pm BOOK HERE